Hanaele: The lady of flames

Chapter 1

Hanaele Masseuch

The training was puzzling for the eyes of the newcomers. Female and male trainees have separate training grounds. All of them wore the same uniform of gray clothes exclusive for the first stagers. On the other hand, middle and higher stage warriors have different vast training spots on their own. On any side of these spacious places, it was surrounded by towering walls, making it possible for anyone to escape. Regardless of the division, commanders' voices echoed all over the area as they delivered their instructions. 

The pleas of those trainees, who couldn't get the directions fast, punished in the middle of the crowd. Commanders assigned their right hand to perform the beating for these slow learners. They were using a whip stick made from an adult hippopotamus so that when it moves fast, the pain will last longer, hoping for these trainees to improve.

I stroke my way towards the first stage training grounds while bringing with me nothing but a mind full of unsettled thoughts. They fetched me from my foster family, and those officers in a knight suit brought me here a month ago. At first, I refused to join them. They looked like tigers ready to kill anytime, and I felt my life is at stake when I am with them. But the conversation ended when I agreed after they threatened the lives of my step-siblings. 

"Hanaele, wait for me!" The voice of my closest friend stopped me from walking. I quickly turned my head from where that voice came from. She was approaching my direction from the back. I can hear her heavy breathing as she ran towards me. When she stopped at my right, she tried to catch her breath as she placed her hands over her knees. Well, it only showed that her stamina wasn't stable yet. 

"Let me guess. You woke up late?" With a deep sigh, I asked. 

She fixed her clothes, stood up straight, and answered me while looking at those trainees who were running ahead from us. "Obviously, duh!" She rolled her eyes and walked away.

I held my hips with my hands and raised my right eyebrows in front of her. I bit my lower lip. "Tsk, the nerve of this lady to leave me behind. Hmph!" I stomped my foot and ran to catch her. 

"How dare you! I waited for you, and now you're leaving me alone?!" I shouted. When she saw me running against her, she ran away while laughing.

"Wie~ Let's see if you can catch me, Hanaele!" 

"Mina! I swear if I catch you. I'll kill you, bish!" 

As we kept running all over the area, I felt in danger, knowing that what we did was disrespectful against the ordinances imposed. The atmosphere here was more than formal, but here we were, running like there was no end. 

Mina kept teasing me every time she stopped for a second. Passing through the busy corridors at the sides of those trainees who were performing an exhibition, only the two of us were not around to confirm our attendance.

I knew we will get harsh punishments after this, but who cares? It has been a month, and so I was already used to their teaching style. 

Some trainees flew with strings as they passed in front of us. They swang their swords with the cemented statues that served as their targets. I stopped to see the dangerous thing they did. When they hit the targets in half, I can't help but praise them. It was wonderful. It also showed how sharp and deadly the Shundao swords were.

"Woah... I wish I am as good as them." Mina sounded a bit dramatic. I did not even notice that she was here beside me. I thought she already flew away. Her eyes were wide opened as she stared at those new trainees. To be honest, we were also the same as them; still newbies.

I shrugged my shoulders and faced her. "Oh, well! Same here!" I responded with enthusiasm, wishing a switch of mood from hers.

"I think all of us-" She quickly chipped in.

"Of course, every one of us here wishes to improve that fast," I agreed while looking back to the crowd where Xiwang began to start their training. Xiwang is the general term used for all of the future warriors despite the stage every one of us had as of the moment. 

When I saw our head commander calling the two of us, I was startled. So what now? I was about to tell Mina about it, but she unexpectedly spoke while still looking at the crowd. My mood changed from being festive to neutral when I spotted her anxious face. Her eyes were wandering towards those Xiwang's tired, exhausted faces. 

I suddenly remembered that it was still early in the morning, but it seemed like these people trained too hard.

"But, does even all of us here really wants to improve or it's just that we are force to do things according to their will..." She whispered without looking at me. I cannot tell whether it was a question that I needed to answer or an open statement.

Because of what she said, I looked away and had a deep thought. I glanced towards those young recruits who were scolded by the assistant commanders, especially those who were training to be an arrow warrior when they failed to shoot the arrows in the red spot. 

Actually, Mina was right. Almost all of the Xiwang I met for one month, shared an awful experience of being here in this camp. Our head officials were forcing them-I mean, us to have improvements every single day. They were even assigning us to the fields under their verdict without asking our side. Those who wanted to nourish their skills as assassins were trained to become swordsmen. Those who wished to become arrow warriors were assigned to run a horse. 

But, I guess the most tricky part was knowing that you were just forced to join this camp in exchange for your family's lives at your age of making unstable decisions.

Well, this is the custom we had, and it is hard for us to change it. 

I shook my head, trying to regain back some positive vibes I had a while ago. I stood up straight and let out a deep sigh. This is also not the thing that I am dreaming of ever since I was younger, but I don't have a choice. 

I gave Mina a slight tap on her right shoulder as she looked down, feeling hesitant to weigh her opposite thoughts. "That's alright, Mina. We are always here with each other no matter what!" I smiled, raising a fist as a form of encouragement. 

My face lightened up as I saw her positive reaction while fixing herself up. She pouted while tilting her head. That's my best friend! "That's a promise?" She asked with her sparkling eyes. I quickly nodded.

"Of course, duh!" 

She showed to me her pinky finger. "Then swear it with me!" She excitedly implored. I rolled my eyes because of what she did. Ugh! That was too childish but okay! 

"I will!" And like what we expected, I crossed my pinky finger to hers. After which, we raised each other's hands, full of cheering emotions before we start our day. 

After the cringe promise we had, we heard a whistle from our commanders' right hands. They were wearing an armored suit with Katanas placed at their sides. We just noticed that they had been calling us over and over again. 

"Mina and Hanaele! Did you train yourself from avoiding doing nonsense?" My commander's right hand shouted in despair of having us with the team on time. I breathed in deep nervousness as I separate my fingers from Mina's. Well, I guess the day starts here. 

Mina and I bid our goodbyes as we separate our ways. "See you later, Hanalae~" Obviously, Mina was younger than me. This sixteen-year-old girl hoped to get the position of an assassin, but of course, destiny did not allow her. Instead of training to become the main life ender, she was assigned of becoming one of those swordsmen. Pretty cool right?

"Sure!" I replied with a wide smile as she ran away towards her commander. I stood at the same spot while waiting for her to enter the gate, where the training ground for the swordsmen was located, with her commander's right hand. 

When the gate closed, and she disappeared from my sight, I strike my way towards the face of my commander. I raised my chin up, closed my lips tightly, and walked with decency with my unbothered gaze. I was getting ready for the consequences I will be facing from the hands of my commander.  

As I passed through the empty aisle with my co-warriors standing firm from both sides, the commander glared at me. His cold, devilish look seemed ready to eat me anytime. I may look nonchalant at this time, but actually, I was killing him at the back of my head.